From tomorrow, Dubai Canal will be home to hundreds of schooners, skiffs and yachts, as well as marine equipment and experts, as part of the five-day Dubai International Boat Show.
If you’re looking to buy your first boat or add to your fleet, keep in mind that owning a boat is an exciting yet expensive proposition. According to Val Streif, spokesperson of boat rental platform GetMyBoat, the average boat is used only eight per cent of the time over a year.
“This statistic was a driving force in the founding of GetMyBoat, which functions like an Airbnb of boats as it were,” Streif says. “The buying process is different for everyone; it depends on what your boating desires and budget are. Some people want a small vessel for cruising with their friends and families, others look for larger craft to live on for parts of the year or full-time.
“At the Dubai boat show, we’re aiming to help buyers who want to earn on this investment, as well as boating enthusiasts who don’t want to commit to owning,” she adds.
Top advice for buyers
If you do want to buy or rent a vessel long-term, Streif highlights what to look out for, as well as the advantages and drawbacks of owning and living on a boat.
Make sure you have adequate time in your schedule to actually get out and enjoy your purchase. The greatest joy of being on water is getting to see a city from a new perspective. There’s nothing more relaxing than soaking up the sun on a boat deck, feeling the gentle movements of the waves, and having a whole day disconnected from the stresses of being on land.
Having said that, given the strong sunlight in the UAE, always wear sunscreen, stop for swims to cool down, and make sure you bring plenty of water on board. If you’re investing in a bigger yacht with indoor cabin space, ensure it has air-conditioning, which is helpful during the summers – and never forget your sunglasses.
To earn a return on your investment, rent your boat out through platforms such as GetMyBoat. Motor yachts are a popular choice among business travellers and luxury seekers in the UAE, who want to cruise and stop for swims or host parties on board.
If you’re going to live on the boat, before you move in to your water home, prepare yourself for life in smaller quarters – be ready to sell, donate and let go of a lot of material possessions, as having lots of stuff on board just isn’t practical. Also educate yourself on planning your travels – finding marinas to dock at, paying all taxes, and making sure you’re doing things by the book is essential.
Some benefits of living on a boat include the freedom to travel a lot more and avoiding high rent prices. It’s a great alternative to many expenses that homeowners may encounter.
However, there are still a lot of costs, including fuel, marina fees, taxes and repairs, which you should aim to counter by renting out your boat when you’re not using it.
The drawback is that a boat is a riskier investment than a house in the sense that the resale usually comes at a loss. So don’t plan on making a big chunk of money once you sell your boat, even if you’ve invested a lot in remodelling. Having an emergency fund for repairs, licenses, utilities and other unexpected costs will help the whole experience feel like smooth sailing instead of a stressful adventure.
The world’s first flying yacht by UAE company Enata claims to make sea sickness a thing of the past. Using four retractable foils, the Foiler lifts itself out of the water to give passengers a sensation of flight as it skims along the water using 740-horsepower hydrostatic propulsion. After launching its prototype last year, the yacht’s pre-production model will be demonstrated at Dubai International Boat Show this year.
The amphibious Expedition craft transitions seamlessly from land to sea, and is built with carbon fibre, marine-grade aluminium and stainless steel. The 30-foot vessel is backed by 400hp, with a robust powertrain allowing it to cruise easily on land. Gadget geeks will also love the boat’s shock-absorbing seats, a console that folds away in two seconds, a GPS chartplotter combo and Bluetooth wireless streaming.
If fishing is your favourite pastime, consider the 370 Outrage, which is the largest Boston Whaler ever made. Its spacious layout is perfect for fighting your catch even as your guests fire up the barbecue. The standard leaning post is equipped with a large livewell, tackle storage, refrigerator and freezer, and freshwater sink and grill. Or replace the livewell with an optional summer kitchen, which provides an additional refrigerator and electric stove top.
The 64 is the first launch from the Sirena Yachts stable of expedition vessels, which typifies a ship solely used for the purpose of pleasure travelling and family world cruising. The spacious three-configuration layout features floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and the 68-footer is 20 per cent more efficient in terms of fuel and water capacity compared to similar-sized craft. Best of all, the roomy and luxurious interior is by famed luxury yacht Italian architect Tommaso Spadolini, who has designed the interiors for Roberto Cavalli’s RC and Freedom cruise ships.
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